Utility Analyst, Dept. of Sustainability and Compliance, 8hrs / 12mos, Ad Closes 08-20-26

About the Role

Under direction, performs utility bill payments and analysis for MCPS with the objective of accurate bill payment and minimizing annual utility costs. The Utility Analyst is responsible for the financial oversight, data integrity, and consumption analysis of the school system’s multi-million-dollar utility portfolio, including electricity, natural gas, solar, heating fuels, water, and sewer services across all district facilities.

Procurement duties include serving as a technical expert in the procurement of complex, deregulated utility supplies; monitoring legal and financial requirements for Request for Proposals and contracts with attorneys representing both MCPS and vendors. Serves as MCPS representative at meetings of various load aggregation groups; prepares information on historic utility use of MCPS facilities for aggregation analysis; manages utility bids and administers contracts. Monitors markets and advises on locking in utility rates at favorable levels to manage risk.

Budgeting and accounting duties include technical support of the utility database with integrated electronic bill submittal and payment systems; management of updates and problems resulting from deregulation and changing suppliers; review and resolution of questionable bills; authorization of service start or stop at individual facilities; set up of new accounts in the database; preparation of annual budgets and monthly tracking reports; and continuous coordination of rate forecasts with the Interagency Group on Energy and Utility Management.

Operating duties include development and production of periodic energy reports; monitoring and coordinating investigation of high-usage alerts; management of delivery problems; and publication of related procedural flyers. Participates in department strategic planning and develops and maintains related energy performance measures.

Responsibilities

• Analyze Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and bid quotations; make recommendations concerning contract awards.
• Write and review RFP bid specifications for utility services to enhance competition; evaluate and analyze supplier offerings to ensure bid specifications and objectives are met.
• Maintain database integrity for a complex utility accounting system, including creation of custom queries, new reports, and data import/export from spreadsheets.
• Detect and investigate unusual utility usage in facilities; manage high-usage alerts.
• Develop and produce periodic energy reports and related procedural flyers.
• Participate in department strategic planning and develop energy performance measures.
• Serve as MCPS representative at load aggregation group meetings; prepare historic utility use data for aggregation analysis.
• Monitor utility markets and advise on locking in rates at favorable levels to manage risk.
• Coordinate rate forecasts with the Interagency Group on Energy and Utility Management.
• Manage delivery problems and resolve questionable utility bills.
• Set up new utility accounts in the database and authorize service start/stop at facilities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Computer Science, Statistics, Data Analytics, or a related field.
• Minimum of one year of experience in procurement of deregulated natural gas or electricity.
• Minimum of two years’ experience detecting, investigating, and reducing high-energy use alarms in facilities.
• Extensive training in computers, office automation, and database management preferred.
• Specific experience with the Energy CAP utility bill payment system is preferred.
• Other combinations of applicable education, training, and experience may be considered.

Skills

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (VLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables, advanced formulas).
• Expertise in relational database manipulation and development, including custom queries, reports, and data import/export.
• Detailed knowledge of deregulated commercial utility bill formats and information.
• Practical knowledge of energy performance measurement and indices for schools.
• Proficiency in enterprise content management systems, including hands-on experience with Optimizely (formerly Episerver) CMS.
• Knowledge of EPA Energy Star Portfolio Manager for benchmarking school buildings.
• Experience with utility interval data monitoring programs and investigative tools.
• Exceptional attention to detail; ability to spot patterns, anomalies, and errors in financial and volumetric data.
• Strong time management skills with the ability to define priorities.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills; ability to present effectively and professionally.
• Strong interpersonal skills for interacting with supplier representatives, MCPS employees, and governmental agencies.
• Knowledge of and ability to meet the seven core competencies of the Supporting Services Professional Growth System (SSPGS).

Pay

The wage range for this position is between $41.22 and $60.34 per hour, based on years of service.

Schedule

Full-time, 12 working months, day shift.

Job-specific information: A written and/or hands-on assessment may be given.